Ramble On

Fuel and Electricity Price Increases

The local news is reporting an increase in electricity prices in the neighborhood of 28%. I guess it is time to start doing something to help myself since it is obvious that we are going to continue to see prices rise.

Researching Solar Power can be a little depressing. The savings can be fantastic, but the startup costs can be pretty high which in tun makes the return on investment a long road. I have located a couple used panels and I am going to do some research and testing to see how hard it will be to do something that can actually impact the costs of power.

I am also looking for an old Volkswagen Beetle. Not one of the new ones, but the good old classic rear engine type. I have had a couple in the past and they were the best cars I ever owned when it came to fuel mileage and how easy they were to work on.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! Tags: Cars, Electricity, Gas Prices, Gasoline, Mississippi, Solar Panels, Solar Power, Volkswagen Beetle

June 28th, 2008 — By David — Filed under: Ramble On Comments (0)

Why Are Gas Prices So High?

For the most part I think I am a pretty intelligent guy, and for the life of me I can not answer this question.

It is getting crazy. Friday our local gas prices went up about 5 cents. I filled up somewhere near the top of that price range, around $3.49 a gallon. And that price was still there on Saturday.

On the way to work today, just 2 days later, that same gas station had the price at $3.61 a gallon.

Now c’mon people, what is up with that. Really, what is causing the gas prices to go up 15 cents almost overnight?

I personally think we need to start looking at drilling more in our own Country and build some refineries. Why do we have to continue to rely on the Middle East for oil? What deals have we made in the past that is locking us into this?

And do not try to tell me it is all President Bush’s fault, I don’t buy it. This has been coming for a lot longer than his administration has been around.

Tags: Gas Prices, Gasoline, High Gas Prices, Oil Companies, Politics, President Bush, US Government, Why Are Gas Prices So High

May 13th, 2008 — By David — Filed under: Ramble On Comments (3)

Led Rope Lighting

I have been contemplating changing the lighting in my office. Led Rope lighting looks like a pretty good option, but the research keeps leading me to other things. I need direct light with a small lamp, and then I would like the rest of the room lit with less of a direct light affect.

When I started looking at the home led lighting there are all types, and there is also indoor Fiber Optic lighting, and this looks very interesting.

We have some lights at work, I hate to call them flashlights, they are tubes with led lights in them that are rechargeable and the base is a magnet. So if you are working in a dark area, you can just place the light on any metal surface and it is very bright. The impressive part is how bright they are, without being a blinding direct light. I never thought led lights could be that strong.

I have the feeling this research is going to take me some time, if you have any information on either led rope lighting or fiber optic lighting that is affordable and functional for a home design, please drop me a comment.

Tags: Fiber Optic Lights, Home Led Lighting, Home Office, Indoor Fiber Optic Lighting, Led Rope Lighting, Work at Home

March 29th, 2008 — By David — Filed under: Blogging, Ramble On Comments (0)

Instamatic Karma by May Pang

May Pang is getting a lot of press with her new book Instamatic Karma. I am sure a lot of people do not even know who May Pang is. She was the woman that John Lennon spent 18 months with in the middle of his marriage to Yoko Ono. That period in Lennon’s life has been referred to as his “Lost Weekend”. The new book is of photographs from that period.

This type of News always amazes me. 27 years after John Lennon was killed a book of photographs can create such a buzz.

Available from Amazon

Tags: Beatles, Instamatic Karma, John Lennon, May Pang, Yoko Ono

March 18th, 2008 — By David — Filed under: Ramble On Comments (1)

Jeff Gordon Crash

Yesterday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Jeff Gordon had one of the hardest hits we have seen in some time. After bumping with Matt Kenseth, Gordon’s car spun to the inside of the track and hit at the one spot that is not protected by safer barriers. What really made it worse is the angle of the opening in the wall where Jeff hit. His radiator landed out on the track a long way from where his car came to rest.

Nascar gets credit for some great safety equipment that they require, but it looks like a few of the tracks could still use some safety upgrades.

It is still amazing that a driver can walk away from something like that.

Tags: Jeff Gordon, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Matt Kenseth, Nascar, Nascar Accidents, Nascar Crash, Nascar Safety

March 3rd, 2008 — By David — Filed under: Ramble On Comments (0)

Van Halen Tour Cancelled?

Rumors are that the Van Halen tour is being canceled due to Eddie Van Halen having issues. What a shame, I really thought this tour might help Eddie, especially with his son Wolfgang playing bass. I know when I saw them back in the late eighties it was Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth who had the issues, but back then Eddie was still spot on.

Hopefully Eddie can get the help he needs. It always makes you wonder “what if”.

What if Eddie could pull himself out of his problems and finish his career in the way Eric Clapton has?

Tags: Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Ediie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Michael Anthony, Music, Van Halen, Wolfgang Van Halen

March 2nd, 2008 — By David — Filed under: Ramble On Comments (0)

50th Daytona 500

I am so ready for tomorrow. The 50th Daytona 500 and I think it is going to be a great one. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. looks poised to win with his new Hendricks team.

Tags: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona 500, Nascar

February 16th, 2008 — By David — Filed under: Ramble On Comments (0)

Iowa caucus

Tonight is the Iowa caucus and I guess that means we can at least expect to narrow the Presidential Candidate field down a little. Usually after the Iowa caucus at least a couple candidates drop out and give their support to someone else. It is probably just an aspect of the mass media these days but it sure seems like we had more candidates than ever before. Some candidates will stick around until next week for the New Hampshire Primary.

Of course the Republican and Democratic conventions are not held until September so we have a long way to go in finding out who will be the leading candidates for their party nominations.

I personally expect to see some real shakeups after tonight.

January 3rd, 2008 — By David — Filed under: Politics, Ramble On Comments (0)

More YouTube and less Television

I have spent the last 4 days at home enjoying the Holidays. One of the things I noticed is that we tend to go to YouTube for video entertainment instead of the Television. We have already seen all the Christmas classics a thousand times and there is really nothing on TV.

We used YouTube a lot over the last few days. The kids (teenagers) love to dig up silly videos and show them to us and we can find stuff for them that they have never seen.

A good example is Rich Little. I remember Rich being a great impressionist from when I was a kid. Well now there is Frank Caliendo and the kids could not believe anyone was ever as good as Frank. Well, thanks to YouTube I found some Rich Little videos and showed them.

I think Frank Caliendo would do better focusing on Videos Online instead of a 30 minute TV show (Frank TV).

Try it, go to YouTube and search for some of that old stuff you liked, you may be very surprised at what you find.

December 26th, 2007 — By David — Filed under: Blogging, Ramble On Comments (1)

Santa Claus Tracker

It’s that time of year again, and the technology sure makes it easier than ever to have an accurate Santa Claus Tracker.

The Norad Santa site has to be considered the Official Santa Tracker.

So make sure to bookmark it and help the kids keep up with Santa Claus.

December 23rd, 2007 — By David — Filed under: Blogging, Ramble On Comments (0)